Iran's Guardian Council disqualifies more parliamentary election candidates [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
A spokesman for Iran's Guardian Council of the Constitution, Abbas Kadkhodaei, said the council disqualified a number of incumbent parliamentary representatives from the elections due to their involvement in a large financial fraud case. The Iranian official added that electoral law does not allow those allegedly involved in financial corruption to be nominated for elections.

Guest, Male #2 (Abbas Kadkhodaei, Spokesman, Iran's Guardian Council of the Constitution)
The Guardian Council of the Constitution relies on legal principles as outlined in the electoral law's candidacy mechanism. Therefore, we rejected the eligibility of 30 incumbent representatives in the parliament. A small number of them are involved in the latest financial embezzlement case, and the rest did not meet the qualifications for candidacy in the elections. Electoral law also clearly states that those allegedly involved in financial fraud, judicially convicted, and involved in anti-regime activities are not eligible.

Presenter, Male #1
In a few hours, Iranians will begin to vote in the first legislative elections since the last presidential election, which was followed by a severe crisis in the country. The Iranian Interior Ministry said it is fully prepared, on the organizational and logistic levels, for election day. Meanwhile, reformists hope to effectively return to the political arena. But most predictions point to a near-certain victory for the conservatives, who are putting forward the largest percentage of candidates in the elections.

Reporter, Male #3
Tehran seemed to be calm today. Hiding behind this silence are many debates and anticipations. After a severe crisis split political groups and parties following the presidential election three years ago, the Interior Ministry said today it has completed all logistic and security preparations for the parliamentary elections. 3,300 candidates are competing for 290 seats in the Shura Council.

Guest, Male #4 (Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Iranian Interior Minister)
We are fully prepared, through the Election Executive Committee, internal political observers, the Guardian Council of the Constitution, and special monitors of the candidates and parties.

Reporter, Male #2
And even though the Guardian Council of the Constitution approved the eligibility of 70 percent of the candidates from the reformist movement, the movement's participation in the elections was limited. The reformists understand the situation; however, they are hoping for an effective return to the political scene.

Guest, Male #5 (Ali Khani, Member of Reformists of the Imams' Line)
We hope the people will remove the extremists from all movements and resist those who support the government without any logical rationales. Our goal is to achieve an efficient parliament.

Reporter, Male #3
As for the conservatives, their maneuvers in the past several hours did not manage to unite their ranks. Their campaign posters differed, and the most controversial ones are those depicting President Ahmedinejad's policies. These people have a stronger popular base outside the capital, and they say they expect surprises.

Guest, Female #1 (Tiba Safa'i, Vice Chair of Islamic Awakening Front)
Unfortunately, some people want to smear the government's reputation through reckless criticism. I believe the people will reject them and their propaganda against the government, because the parliament is the official channel for holding the government accountable.

Reporter, Male #3
Debates continue ahead of the election day. Most stop short at predicting a near-certain victory for the conservatives. However, division among the movements is not as simple this time. Here, the controversy is growing and the debates are intensifying. Talks on preparations for the elections have ended, and talks about the voters' turnout have begun. Both the regime here and its enemies abroad consider any election in Iran to be equivalent to a referendum on the regime's legitimacy. And this is a permanent battle between Iran and foreign powers. Abdul Qadir Faiz, al-Jazeera, Tehran.

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Egypt's presidential election date draws mixed reactions [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male # 1
Egypt set the date for its first presidential election after Mubarak's rule; it is scheduled for May 23 and 24. As for the run-off round, it will be held on June 16 and 17. The winner of the election will be announced on the 21st of that month. Although this timetable puts an end to the speculations around the military's rule, the reactions of political and civil forces varied between support and opposition. Tawfiq Ahmed reports.

Reporter, Male #2
Setting the date for the presidential election at the end of May was not going to be without a political debate around what is seen as the most prominent event in Egypt after the revolution. The call by revolutionary youths for speeding up the election process to hand over power to civilian rule was completely ignored, maintaining speculation around the military council's rule.

Guest, Male #3
We had discussions about speeding up the transfer of power earlier, but what is most important to me now is the administration of the transitional phase. The goal is to hand over power without the occurrence of real catastrophes on the streets in the midst of a security vacuum, given the fact that there are apparent failures in the military council's policies.

Reporter, Male #2
Other political forces, especially the Islamic current, spearheaded by the Freedom and Justice party, the political fraction of the Muslim Brotherhood, also found the timetable to be a good indication of the end of the transitional period that has become the scene of unrest and concern. As for the opinion of the Egyptian street, it varied between welcoming and criticizing the date for the presidential election. But everyone agrees on the need for the next president to fulfill the ambitions of the Egyptian people.

Guest, Male #4
I believe the president should be close to the people so he came to improve our situation, and to take care of the poor.

Guest, Male #6
All we want is a president that is approved by all the Egyptian people's parties. As for the dates, we just want this to be over with, as they say.

Guest, Male #5
They were punctual with the dates; the military council fulfilled its promise. It held parliamentary, Shura Council, and then presidential elections. Now is the time to improve the conditions of the country so we can get back to work.

Reporter, Male #1
This announcement is a cornerstone to parliamentary and Shura Council elections. It is also a proactive step to select a constituent body to draft a new constitution for the country. This represents the biggest challenge as the transitional period comes to an end.

Reporter, Male #2
Now that the date of the elections has been announced, the debates of the last few months on the military council's handing over of power to an elected civilian authority have finally come to an end. The new controversy in Egypt is who will become president after the revolution.

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Yemeni troops demand the ouster of Saleh's army chief [Press TV, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Back in Yemen, soldiers have taken to the streets in the capital Sana'a demanding the departure of the country's military chiefs, whom they accuse of corruption. The soldiers called for the ouster of Brigadier-General Hussein Khairan and Air Force commander Mohamed Saleh al-Ahmar, a half-brother of former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Guest, Male #2
We have come out to dismiss Mohamed Saleh al-Ahmar, the enemy of God and the people of Yemen, who has exploited the rights of Yemeni people. He must leave, otherwise we will oust him.

Presenter, Male #1
Also, people in southern cities of Taiz and Baida demanded the immediate restructure of the army and the ouster of Saleh's relatives from power. The protestors chanted anti-American slogans and blamed Washington and Riyadh for keeping the former regime remnants in power. Washington and Riyadh pushed for a deal that transferred power from Ali Abdullah Saleh to his deputy in a US and Saudi-backed single candidate election. The deal also granted Saleh and his closest allies immunity from prosecution.

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Two US troops killed in Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Two American troops have been killed after an Afghan soldier and a teacher opened fire on them in southern Afghanistan. The teacher grabbed a weapon from a soldier and turned it on the American forces at a military outpost in the southern Kandahar province. Anger has been growing with the US-led foreign troops since word emerged in February that American forces had burned copies of the holy Quran at Bagram Air Base. At least six American troops have been killed since the protests began over the insult of the Quran. Meanwhile, the special representative for the US Secretary-General in Afghanistan said Washington must take disciplinary action against the ones who desecrated the holy Quran. Jan Kubis said he "deeply, deeply and profoundly respects Islam."

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UN report expresses concern over involuntary disappearances in Kashmir [Press TV, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
A fresh annual report submitted by the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has named Indian-controlled Kashmir as one of the places where the disappearances have been prevalent. The report has blamed India for not responding to its contentious requests. Shahana Butt reports from Indian-administered Kashmir.

Reporter, Female #1 (Shahana Butt, Press TV Reporter)
United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has submitted its annual report, which will be discussed during the March session of United Nations Human Rights Council. The report has mentioned about the disappearances and the presence of mass graves in troubled region of Indian-administered Kashmir. The report says despite its repeated requests to carry out a country visit, the Indian government has not come up with any formal reply, nor has rebutted the allegation of enforced disappearances.

Guest, Male #2 (Khurram Parvez, International Human Rights Tribunal)
India would be reviewed in the United Nations. There is universal periodic review of India happening this year. So this report by the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances would also form the opinion of the member states regarding what India has been doing on the human rights situation in India and particularly in Kashmir for us.

Reporter, Female #1
It was reported that between 1989 and 2009, the action of military and paramilitary forces in disputed Kashmir have resulted in more than 8,000 enforced and involuntary disappearances, and more recently, state rights commission has acknowledged the presence of 2,700 graves in three provinces, encompassing a total of 55 villages. Meanwhile, in its fresh right-to-information query about the prosecution pertaining to Indian soldiers involved in crimes related to human rights over the past 20 years, the general government in Kashmir for the first time has claimed that Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defense in New Delhi have not given the prosecution sanctions under Armed Forces Special Powers Act in any of the human rights cases since 1990 to date.

Guest, Male #3 (Parvez Imroz, Human Rights Lawyer)
The Supreme Court is saying that people who have committed the crime, like rape, like killing, like fake encounter, they should be punished for that. They don't have the legal impunity under the AFSPA, Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Reporter, Female #1
The chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir over the past one year has been proposing to Indian government the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. However, Indian government has denied the proposal following Indian Army instructions. Human rights groups have usually accused India of rights violations in Kashmir, but so far India has not come up with a firm investigation, and says it punishes those found guilty. Indian-administered Kashmir is under conflict since 1989 and nearly 50,000 people have been killed so far according to official records, and it continues to be a dispute between two nuclear armed countries, India and Pakistan.

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Syrian fighters make 'tactical' withdrawal from besieged Homs district [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Reuters quoted Syrian authorities saying they allowed two organizations, the International Committee for the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, to deliver aid to the Baba Amr neighborhood and evacuate the sick and wounded. A source at the Syrian Network for Human Rights confirmed to the BBC that regime soldiers entered the neighborhood, adding that fighters from the Free Syrian Army carried out a tactical withdrawal this morning to protect civilians. Syrian state TV aired images of the city showing that life had returned to normal, according to the official report.

Presenter, Male #1
The UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, requested for his mission to be completed without any interference until a peaceful resolution to the crisis is reached. Annan indicated he will visit Syria soon and hold talks with all parties active in the Syrian crisis. Meanwhile, solidarity demonstrations continue in Syrian cities, in parallel to the army's operations in various areas.

Reporter, Male #2
Kofi Annan took a detour to Cairo before heading to Damascus to meet with the Arab League's secretary-general. The former UN secretary-general returned to the international stage as the UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria. He says he hopes to visit Damascus to deliver a message to the officials there.

Guest, Male #3 (Kofi Annan, UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy)
The message is clear, which is that the killing and violence must stop. Humanitarian agencies must be given access to do their work. But it is regrettable that it is not happening.

Reporter, Male #2
Damascus has not responded to whether or not it will receive Annan. According to Damascus, no one has officially informed it of the appointment of an envoy, or of the nature of his mediation mission.

Guest, Male #4 (Jihad Maqdisi, Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
We are still waiting for a clarification from the United Nations, as represented by the UN secretary-general, on the nature of his mission. We will study the matter and respond soon.

Reporter, Male #2
Annan is well aware of the challenges of his mission. So he is starting with calling for dialogue among all parties in the Syrian crisis and requested no interference in his mission. The Syrian issue has its regional and international complications, and the international inclination to interfere has grown after the search for a solution was prolonged. On Wednesday, Damascus refused to allow the UN official in charge of humanitarian affairs, Valerie Amos, to enter Syria to evaluate the humanitarian situation there.

Guest, Male #5 (Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General)
Our United Nations' humanitarian coordinator, Valerie Amos, has still not been permitted to visit Syria, despite the clear need, and despite the repeated commitments by the government that she would be welcomed. I take this opportunity to remind the Syrian authorities of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and I call on them to once again work toward a peaceful democratic solution for the Syrian people.

Reporter, Male #2
The military operation continues in Homs, racing with time to resolve a battle victimizing unarmed civilians, even if it appeared to be a battle between two armies. The regime's army is organized, and has weapons and equipment, making it superior to its opponent, the Free Syrian Army, that fights in small groups besieged inside the city. However, resolving the military battle in Homs does not mean resolving it in Syria. Defections continue; most recently, a defection took place in Deir az-Zour, which was followed by clashes between the regime's army and the Free Syrian Army after the latter intervened to protect the group of defectors. The clashes led to more victims, including civilians who were killed by the violent and indiscriminate shelling carried out by the regime's army attempting to capture defectors. While a war rages, all eyes are on Kofi Annan during his mission to Syria, seeing that all previous efforts failed to end the bloodbath the world has been watching for a whole year. Hayyan Aqoub, BBC.

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Blast targets police bus in Istanbul, injuring 15 others [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Fifteen police officers and a civilian were injured in a bomb attack on a Turkish police bus near the ruling party's headquarters in Istanbul. Local sources said the bombing took place in the Sutluce neighborhood near the ruling Justice and Development Party's regional headquarters. The sources added the explosion was powerful and caused damage to the road and nearby cars. A police official said the blast was caused by an explosive device placed on a motorcycle, and set off by remote control as a police bus carrying 21 officers was passing by. The police surrounded the scene while the injured were transported to nearby hospitals.

Reporter, Female #2
Here, in the Sutluce neighborhood in central Istanbul, a powerful explosion rocked the area, inflicting light to moderate injuries, damaging nearby cars, and shattering the windows of adjacent buildings. Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene while police cordoned off the area.

Guest, Male #3 (Huseyin Capkin, Istanbul Chief of Police)
It seems like they used a booby-trapped motorcycle. The bomb was remotely detonated as a police vehicle carrying 21 officers was passing by.

Reporter, Female #2
The attack caused fear and panic, especially since it took place near the ruling Justice and Development Party's regional headquarters, and building of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association. The association's spokesman said the blast injured several police officers and shattered the building's windows. This was also confirmed by eyewitnesses.

Guest, Male #2 (Eyewitness)
I was walking in that direction when I heard a powerful explosion. Then I started to run in the opposite direction. I saw the targeted police vehicle and other damaged cars.

Reporter, Female #2
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed rage at those he described as "terrorists," vowing that Ankara will continue its war on terror.

Guest, Male #3 (Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister)
I strongly condemn this attack that injured 15 people. The perpetrators didn't achieve their goals. They will not be able to disrupt security and unity in this country.

Reporter, Female #2
Turkey recently witnessed several explosions, notably the bomb attack that struck last May near a bus stop in Istanbul's Telair neighborhood, injuring 8 people. Another bomb attack took place last September in the center of the capital Ankara, killing three people and injuring 15 others.

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US military prepares options to strike Iranian nuclear sites [IBA, Israel]

Presenter, Female #1
The United States military has prepared options to strike Iranian nuclear sites in the event of a conflict. That's the word from the US Air Force chief, who was speaking as Defense Minister Ehud Barak was holding talks on Iran with his counterpart, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Those discussions come on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House meeting on Monday with President Barack Obama. IBA's Elli Wohlgerlenter has more.

Reporter, Male #1
In a run-up to the meeting on Monday between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US administration officials are talking tough on Iran. The head of the US Air Force told reporters that the US has prepared strike plans of its own in the event that sanctions fail to persuade Tehran to halt its nuclear development. Pentagon officials said military options being prepared start with providing aerial refueling for Israeli planes, and also involve attacking pillars of the clerical regime. These include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, regular Iranian military bases, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House of Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday that so far, sanctions are working.

Guest, Female #2 (Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State)
We think that the sanctions are affecting the thinking of the Iranians in the leadership, but we have to remain vigilant, we have to keep the pressure on.

Reporter, Male #1
Clinton also said that the United States has unprecedented levels of cooperation with its ally, Israel.

Guest, Female #2
Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the bilateral security cooperation "unprecedented," particularly with respect to cooperative missile defense developments and realistic military exercises. So there is an ongoing consultation at the very highest levels between our two governments, and we share our assessments with the Israelis, we listen to their assessments, and I think that the Prime Minister's words really speak for themselves, it's unprecedented.

Reporter, Male #1
Also in Washington, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to discuss Iran, Syria, and developments in the Middle East, a meeting Barak called "important and useful." The meeting took place at the Pentagon, with Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also participating. The Pentagon press secretary did not address whether Panetta urged Israel not to strike Iran, saying only that the ongoing meetings between Panetta and Barak, their fourth since Panetta took over the Pentagon, provide them with opportunity to coordinate very closely with the Israelis on security issues, and will continue to do so.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, Netanyahu departs tonight for North America. He will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper tomorrow morning, and spend the Sabbath in Ottawa before flying to Washington on Sunday. Elli Wohlgerlenter, IBA News.

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Iraq seeks to enhance military capabilities after US withdrawal [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Female #1
Iraq is seeking to reinforce its army with advanced defense and military systems, in addition to supplying Iraqi forces with the latest equipment and weapons. This issue dominated talks between Iraq's army chief of staff, General Babakir Zebari, and his US counterpart, Martin Dempsey, at the Pentagon.

Presenter, Male #1
The two also discussed the capabilities of Iraq's air defense, and the means to strengthen them.

Reporter, Female #2
After the withdrawal of the US from Iraq, and in light of the security challenges the region is facing, Iraq is in real need of reinforcing its army, and supplying it with modern and advanced equipment and weapons. Iraq's army chief of staff, General Babakir Zebari, discussed the issue during his meeting with senior US military leaders in the Pentagon, including the US chief of staff, General Martin Dempsey. Zebari said he felt the Americans wish to contribute to rehabilitating the Iraqi army and providing it with the latest equipment.

Guest, Male #2 (General Babakir Zebari, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff)
Iraq needs an army that can protect the border, the people, and its security. This protection is part of the defense system in the Gulf region. They feel the region is in imminent need for this protection, and it is very important especially for our country.

Reporter, Female #2
Security and defense committee member, parliamentarian Shawn Mohamed Taha, asserted that Iraq needs the cooperation of powerful countries to rebuild a military that is superior or equal to the armies of the region.

Guest, Male #3 (Shawn Mohamed Taha, Parliament Member)
In Iraq, we are in imminent need to rebuild a defense system, specifically the air defense. We have a major disadvantage in the air force. We need to protect the airspace of Iraq in general. If we look at Iraq's ground troops, we only have traditional forces in comparison with neighboring countries.

Reporter, Female #2
The army chief of staff's visit to Washington will include attendance at the sixth conference of aviation and defense, aimed at improving the Iraqi army's capabilities and its combat systems, relying on modern defense techniques. Zina Ibrahim, al-Iraqiya, Washington.

Presenter, Female #1
NATO's Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security, James Appathurai, stressed that NATO is seeking to enhance Iraq's military capabilities.

Presenter, Male #1
Appathurai indicated that Iraq has become an important example for the region, and NATO will support the Iraqi forces in different aspects.

Guest, Male #4 (James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security)
Iraq is a very old country with a very rich tradition, but a new democracy. Iraqi media is moving forward under the democratic system. We are here to introduce the Iraqi people to our principles and commitment to help the Iraqi parliament and democracy.